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 Peter Ording 2002 |
Location Coron Bay is located between Manglet Island, Culion Island, Busuanga Island and Coron Island in the Calamian Island Group off Palawan Island in Palawan Province of the Philippines. Wartime History During the Pacific War, used as a Japanese anchorage for warships and cargo vessels. During early September 1944, Japanese vessels moved to Coron Bay to avoid American air attacks against larger anchorages in the Philippines. On September 21, 1944 Japanese Navy Vice-Admiral Mikawa Gunichi, Southwest Area Fleet, advises the Supreme Commander of Japanese Forces in the Southern Area, Field Marshal Count Terauchi Hisaichi to transfer all supply ships from Manila Bay southward to Coron Bay which he believed to be a safer anchorage and he agrees and orders this movement. On September 22, 1944 at 3:00am a Taihi (refugee) convoy departs Manila Bay for Coron Bay including Irako, Chinzei, Baikal, Taiei, Tenhi, Taiten, Olympia Maru, Ekkai and Kogyo Maru escorted by minelayer Aotaka, auxiliary subchasers Shonan Maru No. 11 and Hakko Maru, CHa-60 and CHa-61 arriving by 2:00pm. On September 24, 1944 at 9:00am U.S. Navy (USN) carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 (TF-38) including USS Intrepeid (CV-11), USS Cabot CVL-28 and USS Lexington CV-16 attack eleven Japanese ships in Coron Bay. Today Coron Bay is designated as National Historical Site. The Japanese shipwrecks are covered with soft coral, hard corals and teem with marine life. Each shipwreck is accessible to SCUBA divers. Today, Japanese owned perl farms line the shoreline of Coron Bay. Irako Sunk September 24, 1944 at Coron Bay. Akitsushima Sunk September 24, 1944 at Coron Bay. Kogyo Maru Sunk September 24, 1944 at Coron Bay. Olympia Maru Sunk September 24, 1944 at Coron Bay. Kyokuzan Maru Sunk Busuanga Island. Okikawa Maru Sunk near Busuanga Island. Unknown Freighter (Taiei Maru) Sunk at Coron Bay, possibly Taiei Maru. East Tangat Shipwreck Sunk at Coron Bay off Tangat Island. Lusong Shipwreck (Gunboat or Subchaser) Sunk at Coron Bay off Lusong Island. Skeleton Shipwreck Unknown shipwreck beached in the northwest corner of Coron Bay. Contribute
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